India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Astana on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. The meeting focused on resolving the remaining issues in border areas, with both sides agreeing to redouble efforts through diplomatic and military channels. Following the meeting, Jaishankar took to X (formerly Twitter) to highlight the importance of “mutual respect, mutual sensitivity, and mutual interest” in guiding India-China bilateral relations. He emphasized the need to respect the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and ensure peace and tranquility in the border areas.
India and China have been engaged in a military standoff for the past three years, stemming from Chinese attempts to alter the status quo on the LAC in May 2020. In March of this year, India and China exchanged views on achieving complete disengagement and resolving the issues along the LAC in the Western sector of the India-China border areas.
Jaishankar, representing India at the annual summit, also met with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and his counterparts from Belarus, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. During his meeting with Guterres, Jaishankar discussed global hotspots and their implications, including the reform of the UN Security Council (UNSC) and preparations for the upcoming ‘Summit of the Future’ in September. He also explored future prospects for meaningful India-UN partnership.
In his meeting with Uzbek Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov, Jaishankar acknowledged the steady progress in India-Uzbekistan ties and discussed ways to strengthen the relationship further. He also met with Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin, taking stock of the bilateral partnership and cooperation on multilateral forums, and exchanging views on the regional situation.
Jaishankar welcomed Belarus as the newest member of the SCO during his meeting with Belarusian Foreign Minister Maksim Ryzhenkov, and discussed the bilateral relationship and its future growth potential. The meeting came shortly after the first-ever India-Belarus Consular Dialogue held in Minsk on June 28.
With nine member states – India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan – the SCO has emerged as a significant economic and security bloc. Belarus is set to become the 10th member nation, and Kazakhstan, as the current chair of the grouping, is hosting the summit in Astana.
